Heater



Feb. 9, 1937.

T. HYDE 2,069,761

HEATER Filed Feb. 28, 1935 Patented Feb. l9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,069,761 nEA'rEa John r. Hyde, oak Park, nl. i Application February 28, 1935, Serial No. 8,610

'z claims. (ci. 12a-356) This invention relates to heat exchange devices, and particularly to a device of the character described, which is particularly well adapted for heating water or other fluids.

5 One objectof the present invention is to provide a novel construction' and arrangement whereby water may be quickly heated' to a high degree.

Another object of the invention is to provide lo a constructionland arrangement whereby heat which would .otherwise be wasted is employed to enhance the efllcient operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction and arrangement whereby the l5 rapid heating of the'water is 'greatly accelerated.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby the use oi' insulating material for the device is obviated. zo Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein a pre-heater and a main heater are efciently related and compactly built into a novel unitary structure. Y r

A further object of the invention is to provide no vel Ventilating means to prevent damage to the device by reason of the expansion and contraction thereof, and wherein novel means are provided for supporting the iluid conducting ele- 30 ments and for efliciently directing the heat thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details Ihereinafter referred to and particularly 315 pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for .illustrative purpos in the accom- Panying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. sectional elevational view of a water 40 heating device embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional plan view on a reduced sca1e, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view through a portion of one of the fluid conduits, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing indicated, as a whole, by the numei. 5 having vertically disposed side walls 6 and 'I and a. top member 8 shown, in the present instance, as provided with an outlet 9 by which the products of combustion may be re- 55 moved from the interior of the housing, a burner il Vbeing positioned in the lowerportion thereof and connected by means of a pipe I2 to a suitable source of fuel supply.

Positioned in the upper portion of the housing 5 are a series or plurality of attened uid con- 5:

duits comprising a pre-heater A, the respective conduits being indicated, as a whole, by the numeral I3, and shown, in the present instance, as comprising a portion or element I4 of substantially straight cross section and a portion or element 10 I5 depressed intermediate-its longitudinal edge portions, and adapted to be secured by Welding or other suitable means adjacent its edge portions to the edge portions of the-member I4 as clearly illustrated in' Figs. 2 and 3. 15

The conduits I3 are shown as'of corrugated orzigzag form, thereby providing fluid passages of considerable length in a limited space, and held in spaced relation with respect to each other by means of a spacer I6 in a manner to 20v form a plurality of zigzag passages of considerable length between the respective conduits, the

lower end portions of the conduits I3 being connected to and adapted to communicate with a uid intake pipe I1 extending into the housing 5 2'5 intermediate its end portions,` while the upper end portion of the conduits I3 are adapted to communicate with a fluid conductor I 8 shown, in the present instance, as extending outside the housing 5 from the upper to the lower portion 30 thereof.

Positioned also in the housing 5 adjacent the lower portion thereof and between the burner II and the iiuid inlet pipe i1, are a series or plurality of zigzag fluid conduits I9 comprising a 35 main heater B, the respective conduits I9 being held in spaced relation with respect to each other by a spacer 2| in a manner to provide a plurality of zigzag passages above the burner II adapted to communicate adjacent their upper end por- 40 tions with the passages formed between the iiuid conduits I3 in the upper portion of the housing' in a manner to conduct the products of combustion from the burner Ilthrough circuitous routes to the outlet 9, the lower end portions of the conduits I9. being adapted to communicate with the uid conductor I8, and at their upper end portions with a uid discharge pipe 22 positioned preferably adjacent th-duid inlet pipe I1. It will be noted that the corrugated portions, of the respective conduits I3 and I9 are positioned in overlapping relationship, and that by reason of this fact, all the products of combustion. in their upward travel, are .directed along the entire length of the straight portions of the corrugations.

It will be observed that by such an arrangement, a pre-heater for the iluid is provided by the conduits I3 in the upper portion of the housing, and a main heater provided by the fluid conduits I9 in the lower portion thereof, the two being connected by means of the conduits I8.

By such an arrangement, it will be observed also that the water entering through the inlet pipe I .'I will be pre-heated to a certain degree in its passage upwardly through the conduits I3, after which it passes through the conductor I8 to the lower end portions of the main heater provided by the conduits I9 in the lower portion of the housing, where it is subjected to a high degree of heat from the burner II justprior to its discharge from the device through the fluid outlet pipe 22, the pre-heating of the fluid in the conduits I3 serving to materially accelerate the iinal heating of the fluid in its passage through the conduits I9, thereby providing a Structure which is economical in the amoimt of fuel consumed and eiiicientin its operation by reason of its ability to quickly supply water or other fluid having a desirable high degree of heat. i

It will be observed further, particularly by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing, that by reason of the relationship of the outer conduits I3 and I9, of the units A-B, with respect to the side walls 6, a plurality of air spaces S are provided adjacent the walls to serve as a heat insulation for the device.

For Ventilating air spaces S within the housing 5 formed by Athe outer conduits I3 and I9, the wall portions 6 of the housing 5'are provided with openings 23 and 24, the openings 23 being formed, preferably, Vby removing therefrom the struck-up portions formed integrally with the side walls 6 of the housing 5 and bent inwardly in a manner to provide supports for the series of conduits of the pre-heater A and main heater B formed by the conduits I3 and I9, respectively.

Positioned within the housing adjacent the burner II are a pluralityof guide members 23 for directing the products of combustion from the burner into the passages lformed between the respective conduits I9 of the main heater.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement in water heat-A ers, for example, whereby water may be quickly heated and the heating process greatly accelerated, also that a pre-heater and main heater are eiiiciently related in a compact lmitary structure, and that suitable Ventilating means are provided to prevent undue expansion and contraction of-the device due to changes in tem perature.

Obviously, thepresent invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as thesame may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations. What I claim as new and` desire lto secure by Letters Patent is: v f

1. In a water heater, the combination ofa housing having an outlet, a burner in said housing, Aa plurality of series of vertically disposed.

zigzag fluid conduits positioned in superposed relation in said housing, said conduits of the retcharge pipe communicating with 4the upper spective series being spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of continuous circuitous passages throughout the vertical length of the housing for passing the products of combustion from said burner to said outlet, uid conducting means connecting the upper end of the l upper of said series of conduits with the lower end of the lower of said series, and fluid inlet and discharge pipes at the adjacent ends of said plurality of series and connected, respectively, to the lower end of said upper series and the upper end of said lower series. v

2. In a water heater, the combination of a housing having an outlet adjacent its upper end and Ventilating openings in the side walls of the housing intermediate its ends, a burner in said housing adjacent the lower end thereof,.a plurality of series of vertically disposed flattened zigzag conduits having overlapping corrugated portions and positioned in superposed relation in said housing between said burner and outlet, said conduits being spaced in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous-passages for the products of combustion passing from said burner to said outlet, iiuid conducting means connecting the upper end of the upper of said series of conduits with the lower end of the lower 'of said series. and iiuid inlet and discharge pipes at the adjacent ends of said plurality .of series and connected, respectively, to the lower end of said upper series and to the upper end of said lower series.

3. In a water heater, the combination of a housing having an outlet adjacent its upper end and a plurality of Ventilating openings in the side walls of said housing intermediate its ends, a burner in said housing adjacent its lower end portion, a iiuid inlet pipe positioned in said housing intermediate the ends thereof. a plurality of vertically disposed zigzag iluid conduits pomtioned in the upper portion of said housing and communicating adjacent their lower ends with said inlet pipe, said conduits being spaced with the passages between said upper conduits, iluld conducting means connecting the upper end portions of the upper conduits with the lower end portions of the lower conduits, and a uid disend portions of said lower conduits.

4. In awater heater, the combination of `a housing having an outlet adjacent its upper end portion, a burner in said housing adjacent its lower end portion', a iiuidinlet pipo positioned in said housing intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of vertically disposed zigzag iluid conduits providing a pre-heater in the upper portion` of said housing communicating at its lower end portion with said inlet pipe, said conduits being spaced with respect to each other` to provide a plurality of-circuitous passages therebetween. a plurality of vertically disposed zigzag fluid conduits providing a main heater in the lower portion of said housing, said lower conduits being spaced with respect to each other to provide-a plurality of circuitous passages above said burner communicating at their upper ends with the passages between said upper conduits, iiuid conducting means connecting the upper end portion of said pre-heater with the lower end portion of said main heater, and aiiuid discharge pipe communicating with the upper end portion of said main heater.

5. In a water heater, the combination of a housing having an outlet adjacent its upper end and a plurality of Ventilating openings in the walls of the housing intermediate its ends, a burner in said housing adjacent its lower end portion, a fluid inlet pipe positioned in said housing intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of vertically disposed zigzag iluid conduits positioned in the upper portion of said housing and communicating adjacent their lower' ends with said inlet pipe, said conduits being horizontally spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous passages therebetween, a plurality of vertically disposed zigzag uid conduits in the lower portion of said housing, said lower conduits being horizontally spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous passages above said burner communicating at their upper ends with the passages between said upper conduits, uid conducting means connecting the upper end portions of the upper conduits with the lower end portions of the lower conduits, an outlet pipe communicating with the upper end portions of said lower conduits, and inclined guide members adjacent said burner for directing the products of combustion therefrom into said passages.

6. In a water heater, the' combination of a housing having an outlet adjacent its upper end and a plurality of Ventilating openings in certain side walls of the housing intermediate its` ends, a burner in said housing adjacent its lower end portion, a uid inlet pipe positioned in said housing intermediate the ends thereof, a series of vertically disposed zigzag fluid conduits positioned in the upper portion of said housing and communicating adjacent their lower ends with said inlet pipe, said conduits being spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous passages therebetween, a series of vertically disposed zigzag fluid conduits in the lower portion of said housing, said lower conduits being spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous passages above said burner communicating at their upper ends with the passages between said upper conduits, means for connecting and spacing the conduits of the respective series, fluid conducting means connecting the upper end portions of the upper conduits withthe lower end portions of the lower conduits, an outlet pipe communicating with the upper end portions of said -lower conduits, and

means formed integrally with said housing adjacent said Ventilating openings for supporting the respective series of conduits in the housing.

'7. In a water heater. the combination of a housing having an outlet adjacent its upper end and a plurality of Ventilating openings .in the side walls ofthe housing intermediate its ends, a burner in said housing adjacent? its lower end portion, a fluid inlet pipe positioned insaid housing intermediate the vertically disposed flattened zigzag uid conduits positioned in said housing above said inlet pipe and communicating therewith adjacent their lower ends, said conduits being spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous passages therebetween, a plurality of zigzag uid conduits in said housing below said inlet pipe, said last mentioned conduits being vertically disposed and spaced with respect to each other to provide a plurality of circuitous passages above said burner vand communicating at their upper ends with the passages between the conduits above said inlet pipe, uid conducting means connecting the upper end portions of the conduits above the inlet pipe with the lower end portions of the conduits below said inlet pipe, and a fluid discharge pipe communicating with the upper end portions of said last mentioned conduits.

JOHN T. HYDE.

ends thereof, a plurality of 

